Hospital could have saved man dismissed as being drunk

A man who died from a head injury after hospital staff dismissed his symptoms as drunkenness could still be alive if he'd been treated, an inquest heard. Arnold Siddall, 47, of Oldham Road, Failsworth, was taken to casualty after he fractured his skull during a row outside a bar.

A man who died from a head injury after hospital staff dismissed his symptoms as drunkenness could still be alive if he'd been treated, an inquest heard.

Arnold Siddall, 47, of Oldham Road, Failsworth, was taken to casualty after he fractured his skull during a row outside a bar.

But an inquest at Oldham County Court heard a series of failings at the Royal Oldham Hospital meant he was left to wander the grounds for 14 hours instead of receiving treatment.

Health chiefs have paid a five-figure compensation sum to the welder's family.

Consultant neurosurgeon Prof John Pickard said: "Had he had surgery and intensive care treatment, on the balance of probabilities he would have survived, but would have been left with poor mental function and personality change."

Coroner Simon Nelson recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Siddall died of blunt force head injury and more likely than not his death would have been avoided had he received the appropriate care within the first 23 hours. But he was satisfied measures have been taken to address failings.

Mr Siddall’s family said they were satisfied with the outcome. His brother-in-law Neil Makin said: "We can now try to move on. For 14 hours people were watching him die outside a hospital. If one if them had mentioned it to the medical staff the outcome could be very different. We are pleased the system has been changed."

Dr Ruth Jameson, from The Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust which runs the hospital, said: "Lessons have been learned. On behalf of the Trust I wish to offer our sincere apologies."

Mr Siddall was admitted to A&E three times on September 22, 2007, at 2,45am, 1.59pm and 5,20pm. Paramedics failed to tell nurses he had a head injury, receptionists ‘made-up’ crucial details about him and a nurse blamed his condition on alcohol.